FOOTBALL legends will converge on St James’s Park in support of Sir Bobby Robson and his drive to raise half a million pounds to help beat cancer.

Sir Bobby, who is battling cancer for the fifth time, has supported Newcastle United his whole life.

And now the club is repaying that loyalty by hosting a high-profile sports dinner in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Confirmed guests already include friends from Sir Bobby’s long and illustrious career such as Steve McClaren, Stuart Pearce, Terry Butcher, Alan Shearer, Bryan Robson, Niall Quinn, Steve Gibson and Gareth Southgate, as well as special guest comedian Bobby Davro.

Tickets for the dinner, which takes place on Friday, May 9, are on sale now, priced £75 per person for tables of 10, and include a drinks reception, five-course dinner, celebrity Question of Sport and entertainment from Bobby Davro.

Chris Mort, Newcastle United chairman, said: “Sir Bobby was a great servant of Newcastle United and we hope the evening will be a tremendous success.”

Sir Bobby is putting his own money, time and energy into the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

It will initially focus on the early detection and treatment of cancer and will also help support clinical trials of promising new treatments to tackle the disease.

Its first goal is to raise the money urgently required to set up the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the new Northern Centre for Cancer Care.

The money raised will fund dedicated research facilities including a 12-bed unit with treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art laboratory and consulting facilities, all of which is being constructed by the NHS Trust at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Once the foundation has raised sufficient funds to set up the centre, all additional money will go towards cancer-related projects in the North East. The charity has raised more than £260,000 in just over two weeks, with donations flooding in from the football community, businesses and North East football fans from around the world.

Former Toon boss Sir Bobby said: “The donations we’ve had from supporters of my former clubs mean a lot to me, but the pain caused by cancer touches us all at some point, no matter who we are or which club we follow.”

Dress code for the charity dinner is lounge suits. For more information contact the Newcastle United sales team on (0191) 201 8525.

To make a donation or view messages of support, or for more information on the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, visit www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.co.uk or donate by sending a cheque to Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, PO Box 307, Heaton NE7 7QG.

All donors will receive a personalised certificate and a letter of thanks from Sir Bobby.